Chapter 26

"Tommy," Jude whispered.

Tommy's eyes fluttered open to the beautiful face he'd been waiting to see.

"Jude" he said almost questioningly.

"You're ok."

"I am. Thanks to you. I'm glad you're ok. I missed you."

"I missed you too. What happened to you?"

"I lost my memory. It wasn't until I almost lost you again that I remembered who I am. And what I want."
"What do you want?"

"You" she smiled. "And I'm not letting anything get in the way this time." She leaned down and kissed him softly a single tear fell onto his cheek.

He was in shock. He had always initiated the kisses of their past, well except for the awkward "You're 15" kiss. He melted into the kiss and felt her hesitant passion, met with his own. Life was never as good as when he was with Jude. He knew this moment; this is where he always wanted to be, with Jude. The kiss was a sweet one, filled with the longing they both felt, yet holding back, wanting that first kiss of passion to be perfect, not in a hospital after they both just escaped a psychopath and where Tommy could barely move from the pain of not only this injury, but of the car accident as well. He wished he had the strength to just pull her in and devour her lips and silky skin, but they both were scared of how strongly they felt. And he knew that now was not the right time to move fast. Take things slow, he thought. She needs time to heal after that S.O.B. Still the kiss went on, both not wanting to let go for fear it was only a dream. The haze that enveloped them as they drifted into one another's heat was lifted by the sound of a nurse coughing, letting them know of her presence.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I need to take some vitals."

The nurse went through her routine as Jude sat next to Tommy, squeezing his hand. She wasn't ever going to let go again.

A week went by as Tommy rested in the hospital, Jude by his side each minute. When he was cleared they went back to the scene of both their horrors. They stood in front of the cottage neither of them wanting to go in, but knew they had to. They both had decided it was better to face the past now, than let it linger behind them, tainting their time together. Tommy stood behind Jude, as she began to open the door, bodies together as one, holding on tight, as if preparing for the worst possible thing imaginable.

"OMG!" Jude screamed.